AQW 30779/22-27

Mr Nick Mathison
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 10/09/2025
Answered On Date: 16/09/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education to detail any review of the Education Authority's minor works procurement process that has taken place on the past five years.

Answer:

In April 2025, the Education Authority (EA) Chief Executive engaged the services of an external reviewer to act as a ‘critical friend’ and undertake an independent review of the EA’s capital minor works and maintenance service processes.

The outcomes of this review were shared with the EA Board at its meeting on 26 June and the report was shared with the Department on 7 August. The report notes that the EA is an accredited Centre of Procurement Expertise (CoPE), so did not consider procurement procedures.

The EA’s Minor Works Service primarily uses a competitively tendered dynamic shortlisting system (DSS) to procure pre-qualified design teams and contractors.